Pacific Islands are Actually Growing

by Brian Fung, Foreign Policy

6.3.10

“If you thought rising tides spelled certain doom for islanders across the globe, though, think again. A new study by the University of Auckland finds that over the course of 60 years, 80 percent of tracked Pacific islands actually stayed the same size — or even grew — despite an average annual sea-level rise of two millimeters. Out of the 27 islands the researchers examined, only four showed signs of shrinkage. How have these islands adapted to sea-level changes? With coral.”

The key thing to remember here is that if sea level rise increases dramatically in the next few decades, as it is predicted to, these islands will still be overwhelmed. On the other hand, if we can stop, or even decrease, our usage of carbon as a planet, it may not be too late for the Maldives, Vanuatu and the Marshall Islands.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/06/03/a_rising_tide_lifts_all_islands